Device and method for simultaneously identifying a plurality of surgical instruments

ABSTRACT

A device for simultaneously identifying a plurality of surgical instruments or instrument groups includes a first detecting device having a first detection technology for detecting instruments and, if applicable, related instrument-specific information. The device also includes a second detecting device having a second different detection technology for detecting instruments and instrument information. Moreover, the device includes a comparing device for comparing the detection results of the two detecting devices. The comparing device outputs a positive evaluation regarding the correctness of the detected instruments if the two detection results are matching.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the United States National Phase of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2013/066306, filed Aug. 2, 2013, which claims thebenefit of priority of German Application No. 10 2012 107 274.4, filedAug. 8, 2012, the contents of both applications being incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

FIELD

The invention relates to a device and method for simultaneouslyidentifying a plurality of different surgical instruments or instrumentgroups.

BACKGROUND

In the public health sector, there is an increasingly clear trend towardsingle instrument tracking in order to be able to track the respectivemedical products in the field of instruments and sterile goods so as tobe able to establish and track the frequency of use, the serviceintervals or the current storage place. For example, completeness checksof basket contents at the most different stations of an instrumentcirculation serve for ensuring sterile goods to be utilized completelyand in the correct configuration.

Furthermore they serve for reducing the great and cost-intensive loss ofinstruments.

They further serve for patient safety to a particular extent. Thisaspect gains importance against the background that in the case ofemergency operation sometimes about 100 pressing rolls and 40 pads areused apart from the other instruments. It is moreover known fromhospital statistics that on average 3000 cases occur each year in whichforeign matters such as cloths, swabs or the like remain in patients'bodies after surgical interventions.

Apart from traditional manual techniques such as sorting and counting inthe meantime most various technologies have been employed to assist oreven fully automatically run the detection of surgical instruments.These include, for instance, radio identification by means of RFID(radio frequency identification) technology, weight measurement, opticalidentification, barcode detection etc.

Previous solutions are frequently based on individually reading outinstruments or the sterile goods, respectively, which is time-intensive.Therefore the individual manual detection of individual instruments wasdeveloped into the automated individual instrument detection.Accordingly, mainly the reduction of the processing times is in the foreso as to save time and costs. Equally high processing safety isabsolutely necessary so as to facilitate automation for simultaneouslysaving time and costs. It is a drawback of the individual instrumentdetection that the reading process is very time-consuming in the case ofa plurality of objects and instruments, respectively.

A further known solution therefore is to simultaneously detect aplurality of instruments to reduce the processing times in this wayespecially in contrast to individual readings in instrument tracking(e.g. with Data Matrix). As suggested by U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,029 B2,plural instruments marked with RFID tags (RFID instruments) lying in abasket are simultaneously detected, are compared to basket lists andpossibly incorrectly sorted instruments are identified.

Since the RFID transponder at the surgical instrument cannot beconfigured to have any size, usually passive RFID tags which areoperated by the high-frequency electromagnetic alternating fieldgenerated by the RFID reader have to be used. As the field of radiationdecreases quadratically with the distance, a rather high transmissionpower must be applied. Especially in the medical environment this ispossible to a restricted extent only so as to avoid possibleinterferences with other highly sensitive devices, in particular in theoperating room.

In the case of this so called batch detection overlapping and coveredinstruments in the basket or container may entail the fact that some ofthe instruments to be detected are detected incorrectly or not at all bythe reader used and are thus missed. Furthermore, the related poorprobability of identification as well as the lower processingreliability results in the fact that the reading operation cannot beautomated. As a consequence, also with this solution increasedprocessing times and costs have to be accepted.

Since by the already known systems either high processing reliability isrealized at the expense of the processing speed or a high processingspeed is realized at the expense of the processing reliability and thusof automation, there is a need for action in further developing thereading systems.

Against this background, the object underlying the invention is toprovide a device and a method adapted to reliably detect a plurality ofdifferent instruments simultaneously and with high identificationprobability.

This object is achieved by the features described herein.

SUMMARY

In the device according to the invention a combination of a firstdetection means having a first detecting technology for detectinginstruments and instrument information, especially RFID identification,and a second detection means having a second detecting technologydifferent from the first one for detecting instruments and instrumentinformation as well as a comparing device for comparing the detectionresults of the two detection technologies is used. If the compareddetection results are matching, the comparing device outputs a positiveevaluation regarding the correctness of the detected instruments and,resp., verifies the detection results so that accordingly further stepscan be taken, e.g. that the detected instruments are registered or thatan operating person is informed about the fact that all instruments havebeen correctly detected.

Thus the device allows the batch detection of a plurality of differentinstruments and sterile goods, respectively. It offers the advantagethat in logistic processes such as, for example, in automatic instrumentidentification the instruments lying in a basket or container aredetected simultaneously or in one reading operation without anyseparation which incurs costs.

Furthermore, by the rapid batch detection at the most differentpositions in the instrument circulation or process of the instruments,process information which has not been available so far, such as dwelltimes ahead of and/or behind the respective process stations, isobtained without any major time expenditure. With the aid of thisevaluable information both the process reliability and the process cyclecan be improved.

Moreover it is ensured by the use of at least two different detectiontechnologies that all instruments to be detected are detected andpossible not detectable areas or instruments of the one technology aredetected by the other technology or that at least the identificationprobability and thus the process reliability can be substantiallyincreased. In addition, instruments which are not identifiable to thefirst detection technology in general, e.g. when the RFID tag or barcodeis lost, or due to the current differences are detected by the seconddetection technology.

Hence especially the advantages of the different detection technologiesare exploited by the combination of the advantages of the respectivetechnology. In this way combined apparatuses having plural integratedinstrument detecting systems are provided with the objective to maximizethe probability of identification of basket contents. Thus the redundantdetection of the instruments by two different detection technologies forthe first time enables a detection result to be identified as a wrongresult and to be notified to the operating person.

Moreover the reading operations required until a correct detectionresult is provided are reduced so that by the reduction of the erroroutput the processing rates can be increased, whereby the process timesare definitely reduced. This in turn permits automating the instrumentidentification.

In the field of medical engineering, especially in surgery,comparatively strict requirements are prevailing for the operating room.Since, as already mentioned in the beginning, sensitive technicalapparatuses are used here, they must by no means be disturbed by theradio power of the RFID device. Due to the reduction of the readingenergy also the probability of identification of this detectiontechnology is reduced. Therefore, exactly in such case it is ofparticular advantage that the RFID technology is supported by a furthertechnology which does not or less influence the apparatuses present inthe operating room.

It is of advantage in the present invention that the detection resultsof the two technologies are compared by the comparing device. Thisensures that all instruments to be detected are correctly detected andidentified and a faulty detection result is identified. When a deviationbetween the two results is determined, further measures such as arepeated reading operation, a variation of the quantity or position ofthe instruments to be detected can be initiated.

Each detection technology possibly detects more or less informationabout a particular detected instrument. After verification of thedetection results the detection result of the detecting device whichprovides most information about the instruments detected can be furtherused or processed. However, in this way also the information detected bya detecting device about a particular instrument can be supplemented, ifapplicable, by the information established by the other detectingdevice.

By the use of two different technologies and the comparison of the twodetection results to each other the device according to the inventionthus can work in a self-sustained way, i.e. without any comparisons topredetermined lists of content, as it carries out a plausibility test soto speak on its own.

Nevertheless, in a further development the comparing device can comparethe two detection results to a predetermined data set, especially aninstrument or basket list in which the entire basket content is listed,wherein the comparing device can output a positive evaluation, if atleast one of the two detection results is matching the predetermineddata set.

The predetermined data set can be an externally generated list input inthe device or instrument list, resp., containing the individualinstruments of predetermined instrument configurations or sets. Equallythe list can be a list generated internally in the device which wasgenerated based on preceding reading operations and was intermediatelystored.

This is important especially for completeness checks before, during andafter packing operations of baskets.

Especially in instrument management systems completeness checks are ofparticular importance, as they have to be constantly maintained andupdated.

When at least one of the detecting devices has identified allinstruments listed on the instrument list, it can be assumed that thedetection of this device is correct. When, consequently, after comparingthe first and second detection result to the deposited data set it isdetermined that at least one detection result has detected allinstruments listed on the list, all further reading operation are thusdropped, which in turn results in further time saving.

Furthermore, in the case of multiple identification the data listcomparison offers the advantage that completeness checks can be carriedout when basket and loan baskets are compiled. Equally completenesschecks can be carried out for baskets having a particular customizedconfiguration.

Especially the counter-check with deposited lists is advantageous to theeffect that undesired loss of partly cost-intensive instruments and/orsterile goods is minimized. This is achieved in that the instruments aredetected prior to and after each kind of use and/or washing operationand the like.

Of particular advantage is the increased patient's safety bycompleteness checks of the used instruments prior to and afteroperation. In this way, on the one hand used and still missinginstruments are identified. Furthermore it is likewise determined inthis way that there are still instruments provided which should havebeen used, if applicable. This aspect is of major importance especiallyagainst the background that operations must not be concluded before allinstruments used are complete and that each minute of operation isexpensive, especially when a lot of instruments are used.

In a further development the device for simultaneous identification ofinstruments can be configured so that the comparing device outputs apositive evaluation, if at least one combination of the detectionresults is matching a predetermined data set.

This is especially advantageous when some of the instruments to bedetected cannot be detected by the one detection technology due tounfavorable positioning, for example, while other instruments in turncannot be detected by the other detection technology. By this furtherdevelopment all detected instruments are compared to a respective dataset. If then the respective instruments detected by the two detectiontechnologies correspond to the predetermined data set at least insynopsis, the comparing device output a positive evaluation.

It is especially preferred that the device may include a vibrating meansand/or a conveyor belt means for separating the instruments upstream ordownstream in time and/or in place as well as a control device forcontrolling the vibrating and/or conveyor belt means. The latteroperates the vibrating and/or conveyor belt means at least once for apredetermined period of time and before the instrument information isrepeatedly detected and compared by the comparing device.

Before reading of the instruments starts, the vibrating and/or conveyorbelt means thus can be operated until the instruments to be detected arelargely distributed in the basket. This period of time can be eitherpredetermined or monitored by the operator. During and, resp., after areading operation the device can equally be operated to vary the currentinstrument order, for example.

Usually a repeated reading operation follows a vibrating operation,wherein this cycle can be repeated as often as required, preferably forseveral times in order to finally detect all instruments.

It is advantageous that mutual overlapping and/or covered instruments aswell as unfavorable positions of the instruments to be detected areeliminated. This entails the advantage that higher identificationprobability and thus process reliability are achieved. Furthermore, aneven better automation of the reading operation of a multipleidentification of a plurality of instruments is obtained in that themeans for identifying instruments in the case of negative evaluationincludes its own remedy measure, namely operating the vibrating and/orconveyor belt means for spacing the instruments apart from each other.

In a further development the invention may include a display device bywhich evaluations about the completeness and the correctness of thedetection results as well as the detected instruments are displayed.Furthermore, in the case of incomplete detection it can be displayed andemphasized, respectively, which instruments of the current instrumentlist were not yet detected. Accordingly, the operator can specificallysearch for these instruments, where necessary, add them manually and inthis way successfully complete the reading operation.

By the display moreover product-specific additional information obtainedin the data set such as a specific treatment and/or handling of selectedinstruments can be displayed. Moreover, the additional information mayconsist in the fact that particular further instruments have to be addedto a detected instrument or a component thereof, such as e.g. wear part,has to be exchanged.

Advantageously, it is directly displayed on the display device that aninspection is pending, the instrument is a loan or an instrument has tobe disposed of, for example.

When the detected instruments are instruments to be purified which comefrom an operating room and when dismounting is required for thispurpose, moreover helpful information such as dismounting instructionsor pictures are displayed. When by way of exception a specific washingprogram or a cleaning additive has to be added, the operator is alsoaccordingly informed.

It turns out to be especially advantageous when the device is furtherprovided with means for varying a relative orientation and/or a relativedistance between the instruments and the detecting devices.

Advantageously in an event when a positive evaluation cannot yet beoutput, both orientation and distance between the instruments and thedetecting devices can be varied by moving at least one detecting meansand/or the instruments so as to increase the probability of completeread-out. For this purpose, a detecting device is movable relative tothe instrument base or container and vice versa.

Consequently also instruments being further distanced from the detectingdevice or being covered, resp., are detected without the reading powerhaving to be increased. This is of advantage especially when the readingpower is intended to have as little impact on the environment aspossible. In this way the instruments are completely detected withoutthe housing in which the detecting device is installed having to beshielded or shielded more strongly.

In order to be able to subject the detection results to plausibilitycheck the device of the present invention further may include scales forweight detection. The comparing device carries out a plausibility checkof the evaluation in dependence on the identified instruments and theirweight data deposited in the data set by comparing a detected actualweight to a deposited set weight. Based on the plausibility check itoutputs a negative evaluation, if the actual weight does not match theset weight, and it outputs a positive evaluation, if the actual weightmatches the set weight.

Automation can be better realized by weight detection, as error outputsare reduced by a further check of the detection results.

In an especially preferred further development the device can beconfigured as a so-called tunnel reader having a shielded or shieldablehousing in which or within which at least two, preferably all differentdetecting devices are arranged and form an integrated unit. In this waythe instruments to be detected can be detected all at once by the tunnelreader. Furthermore the tunnel reader can be completely shielded fromthe environment during the reading operation by closing one or moreflaps in order not to impair an external area, especially the operatingarea. This offers the advantage that the reading powers can be higherand consequently the identification probability is improved.

A slide-in case can be operable both manually and automatically by aflap.

Alternatively, the tunnel reader can be configured in the form of apass-through having an open back wall especially in the operating area.In this way the sterile goods is directly detected and passed into theoperating area. The instruments used in the operating area then can bereturned on the same way. This further development offers the advantagethat immediately after use of the instruments a completeness check iscarried out, whereby the patients' safety is definitely improved. Thisis especially advantageous as during operation no additional staffmembers are required who have to deal with counting the instruments.

The tunnel reader can be designed especially advantageously when thepass-through has a lockable flap only on one side, preferably on theside of the operating area, so that an inserting case can be closedafter introducing the basket to be read. The interior of the tunnelreader then can be shielded, prior to the reading operation,substantially completely from the operating area so that the latter isnot impaired even in the case of higher wattages of the RFIDidentification.

Thus it is especially advantageous when the tunnel reader is applied inthe course of an operation, especially against the background of thepatient's safety. The application is not restricted hereto, however, butcan equally be preferably used prior to and after a transport ofinstruments, a cleaning/disinfecting operation or sterilizing operation.This applies equally to packing operations and removals for the repairof individual instruments.

In a method according to the invention for simultaneously identifying aplurality of, preferably different surgical instruments or instrumentgroups initially the respective instruments are detected by first andsecond detecting devices and first and second detection results areoutput which are then compared to each other by a comparing device,wherein a positive evaluation of this comparison is output if the twodetecting results are matching.

The detection results are advantageously compared to a first instrumentlist in a further step. If at least one of the detection results ismatching the instrument list a positive evaluation is output.

Thus a positive evaluation can also be determined if at least one of thedetection results is matching the instrument list.

The method step in which a combination of the detection results iscompared to the predetermined instrument list is of special advantage.This comparison entails a positive determination if at least onecombination of the detection results is matching the instrument list.

As a consequence, a positive evaluation can be determined if none of thedetection results but at least a combination of the same is matching theinstrument list.

The afore-mentioned method turns out to be especially advantageous incombination with a vibrating device which can be operated for apredetermined period of time. This step is important in particular whenin a first detecting step no positive evaluation was determined.Following the actuation of the vibrating device the detection resultsare repeatedly detected.

As required, the duration, the type and repetitions of the actuation ofthe vibrating device can be automatically controlled according to apredetermined pattern or by an operating person. In this way anadaptation to the content of the basket is possible.

Hence the method equally realizes the advantages listed in the beginningin connection with the device according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter an embodiment of a device according to the invention forsimultaneously identifying a plurality of different surgical instrumentswill be illustrated with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a tunnel reader of thepresent invention in a side view; and

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart for illustrating simultaneous identificationof a plurality of surgical instruments or instrument groups.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 exemplifies in a side view a tunnel reader 2 for simultaneouslyidentifying a plurality of preferably different surgical instruments.The housing 4 thereof substantially takes the shape of a cuboidincluding in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel reader 2 at eachof its two side faces an aperture 6 forming the two ends of a passage 8longitudinally extending through the housing 4 and having a preferablyrectangular cross-section. The apertures 6 can be closed by respectiveflaps (not shown).

The tunnel reader 2 includes an RFID reader 10 as a first detectingdevice, an optical reader or camera 12 as second detecting device, abarcode scanner 13 as third detecting device and a scale 24 as fourthdetecting device, all of which are cross-linked with a comparing device14 and are in data exchange. The devices 10, 12, 13, 14, 24 are arrangedinside the housing 4. The first to third detecting devices 10, 12, 13are arranged at an upper portion of the passage 8 so that they face areceptacle or basket 16 introduced into the tunnel reader 2, while thescale 24 for weight measurement is provided beneath the basket 16.

The passage 8 includes a bottom for supporting the basket 16, saidbottom being preferably configured as a conveyor belt 18. The conveyorbelt 18 is connected to the housing 4 not directly but via a vibratingmeans 20, wherein the vibrating means 20 is preferably mounted beneaththe conveyor belt 18 or at the side portions thereof, is coupled to thesame and further connected to the housing 4 so as to vibrate the latter.Furthermore, the vibrating means 20 includes a control device 21 forcontrolling the vibrating means 20 and the conveyor belt 18 whichcommunicates with the comparing device 14. In response to an evaluationof the comparing device 14, the control device 21 controls the conveyorbelt 18 and/or the vibrating means 20. In this way both the orientationof the instruments in the basket 16 and the position of the entirebasket 16 relative to the detecting devices 10, 12, 13 can be varied. Inaddition, the conveyor belt 18 can vibrate the basket 16 by short andquickly successive changes in direction of the conveyor belt 18.

Moreover the detecting devices 10, 12, 13 are mounted via respectivetelescopic holding fixtures 23 including an electric motor (not shown)on the housing 4 so that they can be lowered individually or jointly inorder to reduce the distance from the basket 16. This operation iscontrolled by the control device 21 based on a signal from the comparingdevice 14.

The vibrating means 20 is supported on the housing 4 via columns 22,wherein measuring elements (scale) 24 for weight measurement areintegrated in the columns 22 so as to be able to detect the weightweighing on the conveyor belt 18.

So that the comparing device 14 is adapted to display evaluations it iselectronically connected to a display device 28 provided at the tunnelreader 2. The display device is provided at a position clearly visibleto an operating person. It is preferably mounted on the tunnel reader 2,but it can equally be part of a separate and data-communicated operatingmeans. In this case the information can be transmitted wirelessly to theequally wireless comparing device 14 via an antenna device 30.

Depending on the place of use the tunnel reader 2 can be placed on postsor a support (not shown).

The tunnel reader 2 can also be a lock mounted in a partition wall. Suchpass-through system having an open back wall, where applicable, is ofadvantage especially in the operating area to transfer the scannedsterile goods into the sterile operating area, where it serves as aninterface between the pure sterile area and the impure unsterile area.

FIG. 2 exemplifies a flow chart for illustrating a flow of the tunnelreader 2 for simultaneously identifying a plurality of surgicalinstruments or instrument groups.

Hereinafter a detecting process is described in detail making use of theflow chart shown in FIG. 2, when an identifying control forsimultaneously identifying a plurality of surgical instruments isperformed.

After the start of the automatic instrument identification in step S1the instruments provided in the passage 8 of the tunnel reader 2 aredetected by the detecting devices 10, 12, 13, 24 simultaneously anddirectly successively and the four detection results E₁ to E₄ are readout. The first detecting device, i.e. the RFID reader 10, detects thefirst detection result E₁, wherein the respective instrument isunambiguously identified by radio transmission of information. The RFIDreader 10 turns out to be a relatively reliable technology forinstrument detection, as it requires no free view onto the instrumentsand the instruments neither have to be exposed nor have to face thereader. Moreover, on the RFID transponder a plurality of informationsuch as instrument designation and part number as well as informationabout the manufacturer, maintenance and repair work carried out,frequency of use etc. may be deposited which cannot be detected by amere identification of shape.

The RFID reader 10 of the present invention can work in differentfrequency ranges. Depending on the requirements of reading rate, rangeand the like, the selection falls on the corresponding frequency range.Preferably, the RFID reader 10 operates in the LF range (low frequency)at approx. 125 kHz, in the HF range (high frequency) at approx. 13.56MHz, in the UHF range (ultrahigh frequency) at approx. 870 MHz or in SAW(surface acoustic wave) technology.

The second detecting device, i.e. the optical identifying device orcamera 12, detects images of the instruments which are assigned to atype of instrument and thus to the detection result E₂ by comparisonwith deposited images based on the shape, size and proportions thereof.Accordingly, although the second detecting device identifies the type ofinstruments such as scissors, scalpel or the like and the number thereofwith the aid of the images taken by the camera 12, it is not capable ofunambiguously identifying them, however. It has to be noted in thiscontext that the instruments to be detected should preferably be exposedso as to be identified. This can preferably be achieved by the vibratingmeans 20. When, however, so many instruments are placed in a basket 16that a substantially complete separation of all instruments to bedetected is not possible, they can be separately put onto the conveyorbelt 18 and detected by the camera 12.

The barcode scanner 13 detects, as the third detecting device, thedetection result E₃ which equally permits unambiguous identification andthe detection of additional instrument-specific information. In thiscontext, it has to be noted that the barcode must be visible to thebarcode scanner 13. The barcode reader may be suited for readingone-dimensional and/or two-dimensional codes (Data Matrix).

The scale 24 as the fourth detecting device detects the weight of theinstruments to be detected as detection result E₄. The weight can bedetected most easily, by way of comparison has the least informationcontent and preferably serves as lower-ranking plausibility checkvis-à-vis the other detection results E₁ to E₃.

A detection result of the detection technologies can represent a numberof detected instruments so that completeness in terms of quantity can bechecked and confirmed. It can equally represent lists of the types ofinstruments and the respective number thereof (such as three cloths, twoclips and the like) so that the presence of a required object in thecorrect quantity can be checked. This is the case especially with thecamera 12.

Likewise a detection result may be a list of exactly identifiedinstruments, which is facilitated by the radio and barcode system.

In step S2 the comparing device 14 determines whether the detectionresults E₁ to E₄ are matching. If the comparing device 14 determines instep S2 that E₁ to E₄ are matching (“YES” in step S2), the controldevice 21 passes on to step S3. Accordingly, the same instruments weredetected by each of the three detecting devices 10, 12 and 13.Furthermore, the detected total weight E₄ thereof matches the depositeddata. In this case the control device 21 assumes that all instruments tobe detected were correctly detected and in step S3 stores the result ofdetection which contains all identified instruments.

Then the control device 21 in step S4 orders an output “RESULT IN ORDERAND DETECTED” on the display device 28 and the cycle is completed.Instead of a text display also a particular symbol or merely a greenlight can be displayed.

If, however, in step S2 a negative evaluation is determined (“NO” instep 2), the control device 21 passes on to step S5. Here it isdetermined whether the detection result E₁ matches a predetermined dataset or instrument list L₁ deposited in the comparing device 14. If it isdetermined in step S5 that E₁ is matching L₁ (“YES” in step S5), thecontrol device 21 passes on to the steps S3 and S4, as described above,and the cycle is completed. In this case the most telling and mostreliable E₁ is prioritized over the other technologies by the controldevice 21.

If however, in step S5 a negative evaluation is determined (“NO” in stepS5), the control device 21 passes on to step S6.

In step S6 the comparing device 14 determines whether E₁ in combinationwith the other results E₂ and E₃ contains the content of the list L₁. Ifa few instruments of the list L₁ were not detected by the RFID reader10, the two other results are resorted to in order to still achieve apositive result.

If in step S6 a positive evaluation is determined (“YES” in step S6),the control device 21 passes on to the steps S3 and S4 as describedabove and the cycle is completed.

If, however, in step S6 a negative evaluation is determined (“NO” instep S6), the control device 21 passes on to step S7 in which thecurrently identified instruments are stored as an intermediate result.In the following step 8 the vibrating means 20 is actuated by thecontrol device 21 for a predetermined period of time in order to changethe current order of the instruments present in the basket 16. In thisway especially covered instruments which thus are not visible to thecamera 12 and the barcode reader 13 are to be exposed.

Then the control device 21 passes on to step S1 and the alreadyafore-described cycle follows to the step S1. However, it has to beassumed that the instruments not detected during the first readingoperation of the RFID reader might continue not to be detected due tomalfunction of the RFID tag so that the redundant systems are resortedto. When after step S2 four matching detection results E₁ to E₄ orotherwise after step S5 coincidence of the newly detected E₁ with L₁ areprovided, the cycle passes on to the steps S3 and S4, as aforedescribed, and the cycle is completed.

If the determination in both steps S2 and S5 is negative, the cyclepasses on to step S6. In this step the comparing device 14 determines,as afore described, whether a combination of the detection results E₁ toE₃ contains the content of the list L₁. Unless this is the case again,the comparing device 14 compares in a synopsis of all detection resultswhether all instruments listed on the list L₁ could be identified. Sincethe instruments are unambiguously identified by means of radiotechnology and the barcode scanner, even upon comparing the detectionresults of plural reading operations the same instrument is not countedtwice.

Depending on the number of cycles of the steps S7 and S8, a differentnumber of detection results are provided. It can be stored in advance orcontrolled by the operating person how often a repeated attempt ofcomplete detection is run.

Deviating from the afore-shown embodiment, the tunnel reader 2 may varyboth by its length and by its height so that baskets 16 of differentsizes and a plurality of baskets 16 can be accommodated all at once bythe tunnel reader 2 as long as it is ensured that the detectedinstruments can be assigned to a particular basket 16.

At the display device 28 both the evaluations of the comparing device 14and further pieces of information such as indications of requiredspecial purifying programs, indications of required preparation measures(dismounting, pre-treatment), inspection instructions as well asinstructions to exchange/dispose of individual instruments can bedisplayed. This information can be transmitted to the display device 28including a receiver unit (not shown) for example via an antenna 30arranged at the tunnel reader 2.

The scale 24 for weight measurement of the objects to be detected canalso be arranged at the lower housing side, in the posts 30 or the like.

The vibrating means 20 can also be arranged at an area ahead of orbehind the housing 4 so that the instruments to be detected areaccordingly vibrated ahead of or behind the tunnel reader 2. Byarranging the vibrating means 20 outside the housing the operatingperson can observe and control the vibration process.

Instead of a telescopic device 23 driven by an electric motor, thedetecting devices can also be lowered via a cable pull in the directionof the basket 16 and can be varied as to their orientation, wherenecessary. Equally each of the detecting devices can be arranged on arail extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of thetunnel reader 2, the rail being bent from its center in the longitudinaldirection downwards in the direction of the two ends.

Furthermore, each of the detecting devices may include a separatereading unit so that only the latter is movable and can vary a readingdistance from the instruments.

Hence the invention discloses a device and a method suited for multiplereadability of complete instrument baskets. This is achieved especiallyby a combination of different identification systems which arecross-linked and communicate with each other in a device. The respectivedetection results are compared to each other as well as to predeterminedinstrument lists. The device thus detects instrument information via aradio identification system and an additional optical identificationsystem and/or a barcode scanner, wherein a scale checks the detectionresults by plausibility check. In support thereof a vibrating systemand/or a conveyor belt system are used which can be operated in mostdifferent ways such as a continuous and/or intermittent manner. Thuscombined devices including plural integrated instrument detectionsystems are provided with the objective to maximize the probability ofidentification of basket contents. Due to an approximately hundredpercent detection safety, time and costs are saved by automating thereading operation and the safety during handling of surgical instrumentsis increased.

Despite a metallic environment due to instruments, the basket andcontainers, the device is suited for completely detecting disordered andpartly or completely overlapping instruments in the basket independentlyof the number and the position of the respective instruments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   2 tunnel reader    -   4 housing    -   6 aperture    -   8 passage    -   10 first detecting device or RFID reader    -   12 second detecting device or optical identifying device        (camera)    -   13 barcode scanner    -   14 comparing device    -   16 basket    -   18 plate or conveyor belt    -   20 vibrating means    -   21 control device    -   22 holding devices or columns    -   23 telescopic holding device including electric motor (not        shown)    -   24 scale    -   28 display device or display    -   30 antenna

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for a batch detection of aplurality of different surgical instruments or instrument groups, thedevice comprising: a first detecting device including a first detectiontechnology comprising an RFID technology for detecting instruments andrelated instrument-specific information (E₁); a second detecting deviceincluding a second detection technology different from the firstdetection technology, said second detection technology comprising anoptical instrument shape identification for detecting instruments andrelated instrument-specific information (E₂); and a comparing device forcomparing the detection results (E₁) and (E₂) of the first and seconddetection devices, respectively, wherein the comparing device outputs apositive evaluation regarding the correctness of detected instruments ifthe detection results (E₁) and (E₂) are matching, wherein the devicefurther includes a scale for weight detection; and wherein saidcomparing device carries out a plausibility check of a positiveevaluation based on the detected instruments and their weight datadeposited in a predetermined data set, by comparing a detected actualweight to the weight data.
 2. The device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a display device by which an evaluation and product-specificinformation are displayed, wherein the predetermined data set (L₁)contains additional information, which is output by the display devicewhen the respective instrument is identified.
 3. The device according toclaim 1, further comprising: a vibrating device and/or a conveyor beltdevice for separating the instruments arranged upstream or downstream intime and/or in place; and a control device for controlling the vibratingdevice and/or conveyor belt device which at least once actuates thevibrating device and/or conveyor belt device for a predetermined periodof time before the instrument information is detected or repeatedlydetected.
 4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising adevice for changing a relative orientation and/or a relative distancebetween the instruments and the detecting devices.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the device is configured as a tunnelreader, and the tunnel reader is an encapsulated housing in the form ofa pass-through.
 6. A method for a batch detection of a plurality ofdifferent surgical instruments or instrument groups, the methodcomprising the steps of: detecting the instruments by a first detectingdevice by means of a first detection technology comprising an RFIDtechnology, the first detecting device detecting a detection result(E₁); detecting the instruments by a second detecting device by means ofa second detecting technology that comprises optical instrument shapeidentification, the second detecting device detecting a detection result(E₂); comparing the detection results (E₁) and (E₂) with a comparingdevice, wherein a positive evaluation is output if the detection results(E₁) and (E₂) are matching; detecting an actual weight of theinstruments by means of a scale for weight detection; and carrying out aplausibility check of the positive evaluation based on the instrumentsand their weight data deposited in a predetermined data set by comparinga detected actual weight to the weight data.
 7. The method according toclaim 6, further comprising the step of actuating a vibrating device fora predetermined period of time when no positive evaluation can beoutput, wherein after actuating the vibrating device the detectionresults (E₁) and (E₂) are repeatedly detected.
 8. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the comparing device compares the two detectionresults (E1, E2) to a predetermined data set (L1) and outputs a positiveevaluation if at least one of the two detection results (E1, E2) or atleast a combination of the two detection results (E1, E2) matches thepredetermined data set (L1).
 9. The method according to claim 6, furthercomprising the steps of: comparing the detection results (E1) and (E2)to a predetermined data set (L1); and outputting a positive evaluationif at least one of the two detection results (E1) and (E2) matches thepredetermined data set (L1) or a combination of the two detectionresults (E1) and (E2) matches the predetermined data set (L1).